Deshmukh dismissive of ‘trivial’ Thackerays

The former Maharashtra Chief Minister asked people to shun the Thackeray party, saying that the "trivial opinion of a handful of people should be ignored with disdain"

People celebrate the release of "My Name is Khan" in New Delhi despite threats from the Shiv Sena. The call to boycott the views of the right-wing party got stronger with Vilasrao Deshmukh joining the anti-Shiv Sena campaign.

Union Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh asked people not to attach much importance to what the ‘trivial’ Thackerays say, accusing the family members of fighting among themselves to strengthen their political base in Maharashtra.

“Don’t attach much importance to what they say. It is their family problem to strengthen their (respective) political base,” the former Maharashtra Chief Minister said, when asked to respond to Bal Thackeray and Raj Thackeray’s alleged anti-North Indian stance.

“It reflects how low their (the Thackerays’) thoughts are, and the whole thing gets aggravated when TV channels keep playing one or two incidents repeatedly,” Mr. Deshmukh said.

International cosmopolitan city

Asserting that Mumbai is an international cosmopolitan city and there is no problem for anybody whatsoever, he said the name ‘Maharashtra’ signifies a state having a large heart (Maha Rashtra) and that the “trivial opinion of a handful of people should be ignored with disdain“.

On Mr. Bal Thackeray’s controversial comments in the Shiv Sena mouth piece ‘

Saamna ’, Mr. Deshmukh said a number of petitions have been pending before different courts against his articles.

“Though freedom of press is there, write-ups should be within the legally prescribed limits. And several cases are pending against it (Saamna). Even Nayanrao Rane has recently written to the Election Commission to de-recognise such parties,” he said.